David Beckham insists Manchester United can’t sell Bruno Fernandes despite transfer interest from Saudi Arabia.
The United legend also believes that under-fire head coach Ruben Amorim needs to be backed when the summer window opens.
Club captain Fernandes has arguably been their best player since he signed from Sporting Lisbon midway through the 2019/20 season.
He has scored 98 goals and assisted 86 others in 288 appearances but with two years left on his contract, he has outside admirers.
talkSPORT reported that Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal were due to hold talks with Fernandes’ camp last week regarding a move.
United insist that he’s not for sale but, after a net loss of £113.2million in the year up to 30 June 2024, funds may need to be raised.
But Beckham, who won 12 trophies with the club, has warned that they cannot sell Fernandes given his commitment on the pitch.
“I’d like to think you wouldn’t have to sell your captain. He has been exceptional,” he said in an interview with The Athletic.
“We’ve all been critical at times of some United players — but when we needed someone to step up, he has done it.
“I also hate [the idea of] any young player who has grown up at United leaving the club.
“We shouldn’t be selling players purely for financial reasons. It should be what they are doing on the field and if they’re not performing, there’s always a chance — we all knew that, I knew that.
“If I wasn’t performing on the pitch, it didn’t matter what I’d done in the past or what I was going to do in the future.
“There was a good chance that I was either going to get left on the bench, or I was going to get sold.
“I’d like to think that Manchester United don’t sell players that have grown up at the club, understand and love the club.
“I don’t want to see players leave Manchester United if they care about United like I do.”
Beckham has also shown his support for head coach Amorim, who has overseen a tough first season since arriving in November.
The Portuguese boss recently admitted that he could leave United if their poor form this season runs into the next.
But Beckham is keen for the Premier League giants to stick with him and provide assistance in the summer.
“I think Ruben definitely needs to be backed in bringing in the players he wants but I actually don’t know how possible it is.
“I don’t speak to Jim [Ratcliffe, United co-owner] that often, only from time to time.
“Ruben needs to be backed as a manager to bring in his team and his philosophy; he’s trying that already but I think once he brings his team in and his players, then you’ll see something different.”
Amorim could win his first trophy at United on Wednesday night as they face Tottenham in the Europa League final, live on talkSPORT.
It would salvage what has been a season to forget as they close in on their worst ever Premier League finish.
United are 16th with 39 points, and face Aston Villa at Old Trafford on the final day of the season on Sunday.
